An annual three-day Englican Sports Gala of the Institute of English Language & Literature (IELL), University of Sindh kicked off here on Wednesday.

Organized by the SU Directorate of Sports, the three-day Englican Sports Gala involves over 200 male and female students from IELL, competing in various games including marathon race, table tennis, athletics, badminton, basketball, football, cricket, volleyball, chess and tug of war etc.

Hundreds of students turned up to witness different sports activities held at the PCB Cricket Ground and Hyder Bux Pavilion. The participants showed zeal at the inaugural ceremony.

SU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri was the chief guest on the occasion, who inaugurated the games by facing two balls as batter, while the former Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalil-ur-Rehman Khoumbati, Dean Faculty of Arts Prof. Dr Muhammad Khan Sangi, Director IELL Prof. Dr Abdul Fattah Soomro, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Dr Nanak Ram, Acting Dean Faculty of Natural Sciences Prof. Dr Naheed Kaka, Director Institute of Commerce & Management Prof. Dr Hakim Ali Mahesar, Director Sports Ajved Ahmed Bhatti, Prof. Dr Farida Yasmeen Panhwar, Prof. Dr Tarique Hassan Umrani, Prof. Dr Ghulam Ali Buriro, Dr Sanaullah Ansari, Dr Sumera Umrani, Dr Abdul Hameed Panhwar, Dr Samina Khokhar, Dr Fouzia Chandio, Dr Ellahi Bux Gopang and other faculty members as well as hundreds of students were in attendance.

Addressing the students, VC Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri said games performed a key role in the elevation of a society and were vital to balance, equilibrium and sensibility in daily life.

He said games were also important for the physical and mental health of the students, emphasizing on the importance of maintaining physical fitness to gain a competitive edge over others.

“This event is not just about sports but also about encouraging students to pursue their passion for sports and gain valuable insights into the industry”, he said and added that he was proud to be part of this initiative.

Dr Marri said the youth bulge was the chief strength of Pakistan and the university was giving importance to the problems pertaining to the students enrolled on the campus.

These students were future leaders, he said. He advised the students to take part in sports activities so they could gain physical fitness and perform well academically. He urged teachers to instill a sense of faith, discipline, respect and unity among the students so they could grow into useful citizens of the society.

He said sports and games imparted a sense of discipline and sportsmanship. “Sports teach the value of time and how it is important to note how a minute, a fraction of a minute and even a second decides the fate of a young sportsman in a competition,” he said.

The VC added that the importance of sports could not be ignored, as co-curricular activities were necessary for a healthy mind.

He advised students to participate in all events of the competition with sportsman spirit and maintain discipline during the entire event.

Dr Abdul Fatah Soomro said that sports were indispensable for physical and mental health, adding that curriculum activities were very useful for life, heart and mind rejuvenation by being free from academic affairs, grief and other issues.

He emphasized students that in addition to education, should necessarily take part in sports to promote physical and mental health as such activities create in a person such abilities as endurance, peace and tolerance which were the most effective practices for practical life and also played a key role in exhibiting their hidden talents.

“Youth has a passion and zeal, if we don’t involve our youth in positive activities, the result will be very dangerous,” he said.

The sports gala will conclude till Friday. A number of sports including cricket, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, tug of war, athletics and indoor games will be played.